Share this story

Related Content

EUGENE, Ore. -- Did Bill Walton ever see the Grateful Dead in Eugene? a reporter asked him Thursday night at Mac Court.

The question made the MVP of the 1977 NBA finals, who helped lead the Portland Trail Blazers to the World Championship, grin.

Hear Walton's answer in his own words:

"I saw the Grateful Dead play many times here in Eugene," Walton said. "It was fantastic. Autzen Stadium, Mac Court, Ken Kesey, Mountain Girl ... the Pranksters. We've had a lot of fun."

The fun hasn't stopped.

"I know that Further is coming to the old Memorial Coliseum on March 8," Walton said of the band led by the Dead's Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. "We're going to do everything we can to get there. It's going to be a special, special time. We're going to keep on dancing.

"I'm sure when they come back to Oregon and hear that they're tearing Mac Court down, they're going to play 'Sampson and Delilah' where they tear that old building down," Walton said.